Samuel completed his bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto in 2022 (officially a few days ago!). He has been working in Amar Vutha’s group on a method to grow inert cryogenic solids doped with molecules. Samuel will be starting his PhD this fall at Princeton University where he will work on laser cooling of ultracold molecules in the group of Lawrence Cheuk. We asked Samuel some questions about his research and what to do in Toronto.
Q: Tell us a bit about the exciting research you’ll be presenting at ICAP
We are working on a next-generation experiment to measure the electron electric dipole moment (eEDM). The magnitude of the eEDM is closely tied to new CP-violating physics beyond the Standard Model, and could shed light on the problem of baryogenesis (matter-antimatter asymmetry). We hope to improve upon the sensitivity of past eEDM experiments by several orders of magnitude. For broad classes of theories, this will serve as a test of new physics at energies much higher than achievable in particle accelerators.
Q: For non-experts, can you give us a brief outline of why you’re studying molecules doped in cryogenic solids?
The eEDM is probed by applying an electric field to an electron and measuring the resulting precession phase. Therefore, the three main factors governing the precision of any eEDM experiment are the effective strength of the electric field, the duration of precession, and the number of measurements made.
Polar molecules can exert large effective electric fields on their unpaired electrons, and have become the tool of choice for eEDM measurements. However, most experiments today use gas-phase polar molecules in a beam or trap, limiting the density (and hence the number) of molecules available.
By freezing eEDM-sensitive molecules in a cryogenic neon solid, we can reuse a much larger collection of molecules for millions of experimental cycles, potentially leading to a much more sensitive experiment.
Q: How did you first get involved in AMO physics?
My first exposure to AMO physics was this eEDM experiment! I began working on the project in summer of 2021, and have continued working on it to this day. I very much enjoyed the feeling of making and running a physical experiment, and realized that I was secretly an experimentalist. That summer, I switched my major from pure mathematics to physics, and never looked back.
Q: As a Toronto native, what’s something you recommend people check out in the city?
Everybody knows about the CN tower, but it’s a bit overrated. Definitely check out the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Ripley’s Aquarium, and Casa Loma. There’s also an unparalleled variety of restaurants along Spadina, Yonge and Dundas — you’re sure to find something you love.
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